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Product Liability

Fire & Explosion

For over 35 years, our attorneys have represented corporations and individuals connected with catastrophic, high-profile fires and explosions ranging from residential and hotel fires to industrial explosions and terrorist attacks. Serving as national and regional counsel, we help manufacturers, service providers, and energy suppliers limit or eliminate the risk of large damage awards through effective, efficient and innovative client service.

We recognize that fire and explosion cases can be emotionally charged, as they often involve severe injuries, loss of life and significant property damage. So, we emphasize a rapid, focused response to properly address and preempt any problems that might threaten a company’s core business operations. With a deep understanding of both the legal nuances and the chemical and industrial processes at issue in fire and explosion cases, we can identify the best course of action and strategic thinking for protecting the integrity of your company’s product, services, and reputation.

Area of Focus Contacts

Maureen A. Bickley Profile Image
Maureen A. Bickley

Vice Office Member-in-Charge

Cincinnati, OH

Christopher S. Burnside Profile Image
Christopher S. Burnside

Member

Louisville, KY

Jeremiah A. Byrne Profile Image
Jeremiah A. Byrne

Practice Group Leader

Louisville, KY

Steven M. Crawford Profile Image
Steven M. Crawford

Member

Louisville, KY

Nicholas C. Pappas Profile Image
Nicholas C. Pappas

Member

Indianapolis, IN

Supporting Evidence

Case History

Adair County Explosion, Adair County, Kentucky: January 26, 2016s
4 deaths

Knox Home Explosion, Powell County, Kentucky: September 22, 2011
3 deaths

Carbide Industries industrial Furnace Explosion, Louisville, Kentucky: March 21, 2011
2 deaths; additional injuries

Woodland Home Fire, Louisville, Kentucky: February 1, 2009
2 deaths

Avery Park Apartment Fire, Memphis, Tennessee: 2007 
4 deaths, significant property damage

Sofa Super Store Fire, Charleston, South Carolina: June 18, 2007
9 deaths, significant property damage

Johnny Cash Residence Fire, Hendersonville, Tennessee: April 10, 2007 
$2.8 million in property damage

Darby Mine Explosion, Holmes Mill, Kentucky: May 20, 2006
5 deaths, additional injuries

Rexnord Industrial Plant Explosion, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: 2006
3 deaths, 10 alleged injuries, significant property damage

Mizpah Hotel Fire, Reno, Nevada: 2006 
12 deaths

Ivel Natural Gas Pipeline Explosion, Ivel, Kentucky: November 8, 2004 
9 injuries alleged

Comfort Inn Hotel Fire, Greenville, South Carolina: January 25, 2004
6 deaths; 15+ injuries alleged

Mountain View Resort and Casino, Pahrump, Nevada: April 29, 2003
$25 million in alleged property and lost profit damages

CTA Acoustics Plant Explosion, Corbin, Kentucky: February 20, 2003 
7 deaths; 40+ injuries alleged

Rhode Island Station Nightclub Fire, West Warwick, Rhode Island: February 20, 2003
100 deaths; 100+ injuries alleged

West Pharmaceutical Plant Explosion, Kinston, North Carolina: January 29, 2003 
6 deaths; 38 injuries alleged

Oklahoma City Bombing Litigation: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: April 19, 1995
169 deaths; 500 + injuries

San Juan Dupont Plaza Hotel Fire, San Juan, Puerto Rico: December 31, 1986
97 deaths; numerous injuries

Happy Land Social Club Fire, New York, New York: March 23, 1990
87 deaths

Imperial Food Products, Hamlet, North Carolina: September 3, 1991
25 deaths

Meridian Plaza Fire, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: February 23-24, 1991
3 deaths; $1 billion in damages

MGM Grand Hotel Fire, Las Vegas, Nevada: November 21, 1980
85 deaths

Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire, Southgate, Kentucky: May 28, 1977
165 deaths

Air Canada Litigation, Covington, Kentucky: June 2, 1983
23 deaths

Howard Johnson/Holiday Inn Fire, Bowling Green, Kentucky: January 6, 1996 
4 deaths; 16 injured

Hexane Gas Sewer Explosion Litigation, Louisville, Kentucky: February 13, 1981 
$60 million in damage

Younkers Department Store, Des Moines, Iowa: November 5, 1978
10 deaths

Sixth Avenue Telephone Exchange, New York, New York: February 27, 1975 
100+ injured

Related Experience

Our attorneys have also served as national, regional, or local counsel in a variety of significant product liability matters, including:

  • National counsel for Fire Litigation for CNH America LLC, a manufacturer of construction and agricultural equipment
  • National coordinating counsel for manufacturers of lawn care chemicals, household appliances, hand and power tools and commercial playground equipment
  • Represented Bridgestone/Firestone in product liability cases filed arising from a national tire recall
  • Defended Noveon, Inc., a specialty chemicals manufacturer, in multiple personal injury lawsuits arising from alleged exposure to hydrogen chloride gas inadvertently released from Noveon’s facility
  • Represented defendants in numerous drug and medical device serial litigation matters, including the FenPhen diet drug litigation, latex glove litigation, OxyContin litigation, Rezulin litigation and mechanical heart valve litigation. We also represented manufacturers and distributors of a wide variety of other products, including materials handling equipment; farm and agricultural machinery; construction products and equipment; machine tools; commercial food preparation equipment; boilers, furnaces, fans and electronic air cleaners; propane delivery systems; and smoke detectors
  • Defended General Electric Company, a government contractor, in several class action lawsuits arising from alleged exposure to high levels of uranium and uranium contaminants at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Kentucky
  • Defeated certification of an alleged nationwide class action filed against ChemLawn by individuals claiming a variety of injuries from exposure to pesticides. Thereafter, acted as national counsel to defend individual actions evolving from the denial of class certification
  • Counsel for Westinghouse in cases stemming from alleged exposure to PCBs. We received summary judgment in all cases but one, which eventually settled for nuisance value

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